The book was prepared by the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Kunstbibliothek Berlin and Museum für angewandte Kunst Wien on the occasion of the completion of the international project entitled Ornamental Prints supported by the EU — Culture 2000 programme.

These three institutions created on-line database of their ornamental print collections: www.ornamentalprints.eu.

Exhibition of the same name took place in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, 26. 9. 2007—6. 1. 2008. It revealed the development of the ornament from the time of the Italian and German Renaissance to the period of Rococo, utilising examples of ornamental engravings that, since the 16th century served as prototypes for architects, artists and decorators.